Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving skin line viewing in a medical X-ray diagnostic system having an X-ray source for generating a scanning X-ray beam to image a target. In one form, the apparatus includes a first collimator positioned in the X-ray beam and having a rectangular shaped slit for passing the beam. A second collimator is positioned adjacent the first collimator and includes a plurality of spaced attenuation plates which can be moved over the slit in the first collimator. The attenuation plates are angles and tapered with respect to the slit. Control means is provided for locating the target within the slit and continuously driving the second collimator attenuation plates so as to intersect the edge of the target aligned with the slit.

Abstract: A crimping or rollover tool for an end of a metal band used to secure a metal braid to an electrical conductor is formed in a plier-like tool having a guide for accurately locating the tool and a pivotable crimping element operable to effect crimping of the band end without loosening of the band. The guide is slidingly coupled to a jaw of the tool with the crimping element pinned to the guide. Closing of the tool jaws causes rotation of the crimping element to bend the band end over a band buckle without pushing the band end backwards through the buckle.

Abstract: An incinerator apparatus has a primary incinerator chamber which has a secondary incinerator chamber coupled thereto by a passageway. The primary incinerator chamber has a primary air input into the incinerator chamber and the secondary air chamber has a secondary air input thereinto having a plurality of air input lines with each line having an electric motor control valve, such as a damper motor controlling a damper valve controlling the flow through one of the input lines. A plurality of ultraviolet flame detector ports open into the side of the secondary incinerator chamber, each being spaced a predetermined distance from each other and each having a ultraviolet flame detector positioned therein for sensing the ultraviolet radiation and the flame adjacent the detector in the secondary incinerator chamber.

Abstract: A radio LAN station is provided for receiving information frames including start and end delimiters and user data therebetween. The start and end delimiters include both data symbols and special non-data symbols. The data symbols and non-data symbols being transmitted to the radio LAN station are sent thereto via a spread spectrum signal. The data symbols and the non-data symbols are spread via first and second spreading codes, respectively. The receiving radio LAN station includes first and second correlators which respectively correlate the received spread spectrum signal against the first spreading code to retrieve the data symbols and against the second spreading code to retrieve the non-data symbols. Rectangular representations of the received data and non-data symbols are thus produced and are converted to polar form via appropriate rectangular to polar converters. The polar representations of the data and non-data symbols respectively exhibit a vector length Z and a vector length Z'.

Abstract: A method is provided for converting a hardware configuration and corresponding control logic program for use on a first programmable logic controller (PLC) to an equivalent hardware configuration and control logic program for use on a second PLC. A graphic representation of hardware modules which are usable with the first PLC are displayed for the user's consideration. The user selects those modules which are actually employed in a particular hardware configuration for the first PLC and a first hardware configuration file is created therefrom. A determination is then made of those second PLC hardware modules which are equivalent to the first PLC hardware modules contained in the first hardware configuration file. This determination is made by referencing a first data base which includes information as to which hardware modules for use on the second PLC are equivalent to corresponding hardware modules for use on the first PLC.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated hand-held wire stripping tool having a first housing for supporting operating elements of the tool and a second housing for substantially containing pneumatic elements of the tool is constructed such that the first housing is rotatably coupled to the second housing for rotation into either a left hand or right hand operating position. The operating elements of the tool include a first pair of opposed clamping jaws and a second pair of opposed cutting blades. The jaws and blades are coupled such that initial actuation of the tool closes the jaws and blades and continued actuation displaces the jaws with respect to the blades. The pneumatic elements comprise a pneumatic valve and a diaphragm supported on a stem with the stem extending through the diaphragm and into engagement with one of the operating elements of the tool. An aperture extends coaxially with and substantially through the stem and terminates adjacent the operating element.

Abstract: A surgical punch apparatus incorporating a fixed cutter blade and a sliding cutter blade incorporates a drive mechanism which causes the sliding cutter blade to rotate with respect to the fixed cutter blade. Relative rotation effects a slicing action between the blades to facilitate cutting and to enhance longevity of the blade without sharpening.

Abstract: A banding tool for tightening a band about a woven metal braid portion of an electrical cable about a tubular termination sleeve portion of an electrical connector. The tool comprises a band tension limit which can be adjusted while the tool is coupled to a test device, such as a strain gauge. The tool includes a shuttle mechanism for incrementally advancing the band through the tool during a forward stroke. The shuttle mechanism is mechanically coupled to a pivotally mounted handle by way of an overcenter toggle mechanism. The overcenter toggle mechanism is coupled to a spring tensioning assembly, which includes a plurality of spring members, such as Belleville washers, disposed near the rear of the tool. An adjustment screw on the rear cover portion of the tool allows the spring tension of the spring members to be adjusted. Once the band tension limit is reached, the overcenter toggle mechanism locks the handle in its closed position, thereby preventing further movement of the shuttle mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an indication of susceptibility of a person to incur carpal tunnel syndrome by establishing a ratio of thickness to width of the person's wrist. A generally L-shaped housing has a first slide member coupled to a first arm and a second slide member coupled to a second arm. Each of the slide members has an element extends substantially perpendicularly to a direction of sliding motion of a corresponding slide member. Each of the elements extends into a space between the arms about an included angle defined by a juncture of the arms and each of the slide members has overlapping edges at their respective ends adjacent the juncture of the arms. The overlapping edges define a line bisecting the juncture when the height to width ratio of an area defined by the extending elements and the arms of the housing is approximately 0.7. The overlapping edges define a point on a predetermined side of the line indicating a ratio greater than about 0.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled air sampling pump utilizes a PWM controlled DC electric motor for regulating air flow generated by a diaphragm-type air pump. The control system regulates air flow as a function of RPM of the motor by establishing a table of values which relate motor RPM to air flow rates. The control system maintains RPM at the desired value but includes a control loop which senses deviations in RPM and adjusts the PWM signals to the motor to regulate RPM. The system also senses large changes in RPM and treats such changes as blockages in the air sampling pump lines which prevent accurate environmental sampling. This system enters a cycling mode which turns the pump motor off for different time intervals until the detected blockage has been removed or until a predetermined time has expired. This procedure minimizes battery drain in the event of blockage of the air sampling pump lines.

Abstract: A reconfigurable counter is provided which includes first and second memories coupled via a common bus to a microprocessor which controls the process of configuring and reconfiguring the counter. A programmable hardware array, coupled to the microprocessor, is capable of being programmed to emulate a plurality of different counter types. The first memory stores a plurality of different counter configuration profiles, each of which corresponds to a different type counter configuraiton. In one or more of the selected counter types, different counter modes such as an up-down counter mode, pulse direction counter mode and A quad B counter modes are available.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding and decoding a frequency-shift keyed data signal for transmission over a non-ideal communications channel that utilizes phase-coherently combined halfwave segments of sinewaves with a finite number of different frequencies and equal amplitudes. A stream of data characters is encoded into a transmit sequence {S(n)} of positive numbers which defines an ac signal of halfwave segments of sinewaves of fixed, preselected amplitude. The ac signal encoding the stream of data characters is transmitted over the communications channel and received as a perturbed ac signal. The received signal is identified by consecutively determining the time durations between peak values or between zero crossings of each segment yielding a receive sequence {E(n)} of positive numbers. All or parts of this receive sequence are then compared with each of a set of preselected, stored sequences, each representing a stream of none, one or more data characters.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is useful in an I/O system of a programmable controller and provides a method and circuitry by which control and diagnostic information is exchanged between a control unit of an I/O module and a plurality of input/output points of the I/O module. A control signal is generated in the control unit in the form of sequential pulse frames such that the control information is defined by a series of pulse width modulated pulses. Each frame includes a no-pulse time period following the review of pulses to mark the end of a frame. Each I/O point receives a control signal of its own and generates a clock pulse in response to each pulse. The clock pulse initiates a sampling of the corresponding pulse and simultaneously initiates return of a diagnostic signal value to the central unit. Thus, the control signal provides for sampling of its own content and provides for a return of a diagnostic data bit for each control bit.

Abstract: A battery powered electric motor driven rewinding and storing apparatus for flexible protective covers for vehicles. The apparatus has a framework enclosed by a flexible vinyl covering with an axle extending therethrough for winding a vehicle cover upon. One end of the axle attaches to a manual crank and the other to a gear box. A direct current electric motor drives the gear box from a low voltage battery. The gear box can be disengaged to unwind the cover or to facilitate manual rewinding. The apparatus includes an adjustable strap which allows attachment to different locking mechanisms in different automobile trunks when the apparatus is resting on the automobile bumper. Elastic straps are used to hold the apparatus in place on the bumper.

Abstract: A wall mountable storage rack for compact disks comprises an open framework forming a plurality of adjacent rectangular receptacles, each being sized to accept a compact disk when the disk is oriented with one of the disk's largest surfaces facing outward of the rack. At least one releasable latch is integrated into each of the receptacles for releasably retaining a disk therein. Each of the rectangular receptacles is formed from four elongated side members releasably joined to four corner members. Preselected ones of the corner members are connectable to other elongated side members for forming the adjacent receptacles. The corner members also include a pin and socket arrangement on a rear surface for attaching a backing to an assembled rack. The rack may be wall mounted using Velcro type fasteners or the corner members may include pin holes formed therethrough for attaching the rack to a wall with small brads or pins.

Abstract: A method is provided for communicating among a plurality of programmable logic controllers (PLC's) coupled together on a common bus. A master PLC and a plurality of slave PLC's are coupled to the bus. An attach signal is transmitted by the master PLC to address and select the particular slave PLC to which the master PLC desires to transmit a message. The master PLC then transmits a mailbox signal including data and message length information regarding a next message if not all data from the master PLC and intended for the slave PLC could fit in the mailbox message. Additional next messages, each including data and next message length information, are sent by the master PLC to the selected slave PLC as necessary until all of the data intended for the selected slave PLC is transmitted by the master PLC.